Seems to me that most economic theory is based on some idea scarcity and deprivation. People work, in the simplest analysis, because they want to eat. There might not be enough food or other resources to go around, so people compete with each other and this competition drives growth and innovation and this results in what we call progress which could be defined as moving forward in time with increased population, material wealth and continually more sophisticated technology. Progress does not necessarily equate to increased happiness but instead with increased convenience, specialization and the perception that things are “getting better”. But what happens to this model when the necessity of competing for basic resources is either removed because of a generous safety net, or rendered pointless because of a system with fewer and fewer opportunities? It seems to me that there are two likely outcomes, either dystopia or, as long as we have a system capable of easily providing for everyone, we need to reorganize the system so the motivation and opportunity is for happiness, fulfillment and purpose rather than the necessity of escaping scarcity. How thoughtful of Jefferson to include the pursuit of happiness in our guiding principles.